The entrance trial at Ao Tian Academy
Had passed through four stages—
Fate Mark Imprint,
Strength Test,
Spiritual Perception,
And finally, live combat.
In the end,
Only thirty percent of candidates passed.
As dusk settled,
Academy officer Dù Jīn stepped onto the platform,
Carrying a wooden staff—
His posture marked by rare clarity and pride.
He wore a deep gray academy robe,
A Discipline Seal at his waist.
His expression remained stern,
But when his gaze swept past Xiǎo Chén and Xuán Chén,
A subtle shift occurred—
From disdain to attention,
From attention to caution,
And finally—
A steady nod.
"This trial is now concluded.
The names have been submitted to the Discipline Hall.
By tomorrow at Shēn hour,
Each of you may check the announcement wall.
Those listed will be admitted.
Those not—
Need not force the matter."
His voice was not loud,
Yet carried authority.
He continued,
Tone growing more formal.
"Those who passed
Will proceed to their designated living areas.
For the first day,
All will reside in the northernmost Candidate Quarters.
Once admission is confirmed,
You will be assigned a student registry."
"Each morning at Mǎo hour,
Attend lectures at Yuntai Hall.
Afternoons at Yǒu hour
Are for self-study or accessing the Scripture Pavilion.
Without special permission,
Do not enter core areas such as the Sword Hall, Alchemy Tower, or Star Vault.
Violators will be expelled."
"Most instruction and training
Will take place in the Outer Science Hall and Blade Arena.
To enter the Inner Court for advanced training,
You must pass the biannual Inner Hall Selection."
"The trial results will be posted
On the academy's main wall tomorrow at Shēn hour.
No separate notice will be given.
Tonight, do not disturb the dormitory order.
Any issues must be registered with the Candidate Quarters elder."
He paused—
Then added one final note.
"Additionally,
All records from today's trial
Have been sealed and archived by the academy.
Certain entries
Have been forwarded to the Headmaster for private review
And classified storage."
His gaze swept the crowd.
When it reached Xiǎo Chén and Xuán Chén,
He paused.
He remembered seeing them earlier—
Just two more black-robed candidates among many.
He hadn't looked twice.
But after the fourth stage…
That indifference was gone.
What came first was surprise.
Then—
A sudden shift.
In the end,
It was a quiet tribute to strength—
And an unspoken apology for prior judgment.
As the final words faded,
Groups of apprentices dispersed,
Drawing lots for their assigned quarters.
Most were directed to temporary zones,
Awaiting the official announcement.
The Black Wall stood silent.
Some pondered.
Some exhaled.
Xiǎo Chén and Xuán Chén exchanged a glance—
One gazing at the sky,
The other smiling without a word.
Just then,
Several subtle glances swept toward them.
A youth in brocade robes approached,
Followed by a few companions.
His smile was polished.
"Gentlemen,
Impressive performance.
May I ask—do you belong to any sect?
If not,
Perhaps you'd consider visiting our family branch?
We'd be honored to connect."
Xuán Chén said nothing.
He gave a calm glance.
The youth's eyes flickered.
He coughed awkwardly,
Then wisely stepped back.
Next,
A sharp-eyed youth passed nearby,
His gaze slicing toward Xiǎo Chén like a blade.
"Dragon spear…
Hmph.
Enrollment is just the beginning.
Don't disappoint."
With that,
He turned and left.
Someone whispered—
"That's Sūn Lièfēng,
Seed disciple of Redlight Sect,
A branch of Crimson Refining Sect.
Hot-tempered.
Despises talent outside his lineage.
He's already marked Xiǎo Chén as a rival.
Conflict is inevitable."
From the corner,
A slender girl with long hair passed quietly.
Her gaze lingered on Xiǎo Chén and Xuán Chén.
She bit her lip—
Her heart stirred.
It's them…
Her companion continued chatting,
Unaware of the shift.
She had no name yet—
But a seed was planted.
—
In a side chamber of the Star Vault,
Gǔ Líng stood with hands behind his back,
Gazing into the night.
On the desk lay a trial record—
Its pages filled with detailed notes
On each passing student's fate marks and destiny traits.
He turned to a particular page.
His finger paused on the words: Ten Marks.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he closed the book,
Took out a wax seal,
And locked the entire record into his sleeve.
"This boy…
Should not be flaunted."
Gǔ Líng spoke softly.
He turned toward Dù Jīn,
Who stood nearby.
"Regarding Xiǎo Chén—
Let it end with us.
The Fate Mark records have been sealed separately.
If change comes,
I'll reopen them myself."
Dù Jīn nodded solemnly.
"Understood, Headmaster."
—
Outside the Star Vault,
A youth in white robes stood quietly.
On his left shoulder—
A broken ring insignia.
Tall and composed,
His features were sharp,
Eyes deep enough to reflect the colors of one's soul.
He watched the dispersing crowd,
His lips moved slightly.
"…Interesting."
He followed Xuán Chén and Xiǎo Chén with his gaze.
His finger flicked—
A talisman vanished into his sleeve.
In that moment,
A strange light flickered in his eyes.
"Divine blood stirring…
Destiny begins to shift…"
He smiled.
A smile laced with calculation—
And a trace of weariness.
—
As night approached,
The atmosphere near the Candidate Quarters grew tense.
The crowd thinned.
A youth in a blue short robe walked alone,
His eyes filled with mockery and disdain.
His steps were steady—
Deliberately slow,
Drawing attention.
He stopped near Xuán Chén and Xiǎo Chén,
A smirk on his lips,
His tone provocative.
"Newcomers, huh?
Quite the stir you've caused.
Even Sword Hall's Master Xuān Yuán made a personal appearance—
That's rare at Ao Tian Academy."
Then his gaze shifted to Xuán Chén.
"And you—
Still as a mountain,
Talismans flying…
The academy's been buzzing."
Xuán Chén's eyes remained calm.
He did not respond.
The youth chuckled to himself.
"You two are… interesting.
But—I'm Xiàng Yuán, ranked eighty-ninth on the Hidden Dragon List.
No other reason for coming today.
Just wanted to see if the rumors about you were true."
As his words landed,
A ripple of energy stirred the air.
Dust rose from the ground.
The crowd murmured.
"He's on the Hidden Dragon List?"
"Low rank, sure—
But still officially listed.
He beat several upperclassmen last year.
Not weak."
As tension built,
Xiǎo Chén leaned toward Xuán Chén,
Whispering—
"Brother…
What's the Hidden Dragon List?
Only the top ninety get on?"
Xuán Chén shook his head slightly.
His tone was flat.
"Never heard of it.
Probably just another ranking."
Xiǎo Chén turned to Xiàng Yuán,
Genuinely puzzled.
"Uh… sorry, who did you say you were again?"
Xuán Chén said nothing.
He glanced at the youth—
A thought flickered.
Chaotic meridians.
Unstable qi sea.
All bluff…
Barely worthy of the seventies.
Claiming top fifty? Absurd.
He didn't speak.
Just stirred his spiritual energy within his sleeve,
Watching quietly.
Xiàng Yuán's smile twitched.
His face darkened.
His throat moved—
A flicker of anger in his eyes.
But he swallowed it.
Several candidates stifled laughter.
One whispered—
"That entrance…
Might've backfired."
—
At a distance,
A man leaned against a green pillar.
He wore an Inner Court robe—
But the golden thread on his shoulder
Was not of Ao Tian's design.
He flipped through a jade-bound book,
Expression calm,
Eyes deep as a still lake.
The sound of turning pages was faint—
As if recording things not meant for this place.
His gaze passed over Xuán Chén and Xiǎo Chén.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"So…
He couldn't resist making a move.
But this wasn't his idea, was it?"
The man with the golden thread—Sītú Jìng—
Paused his page.
He chuckled softly,
Looking toward a corner of the pavilion.
"Using such a low-ranked pawn to probe?
That's your idea of a test?
Come on, Bái Shī…
That's just lazy."
Above, Bái Shī felt the gaze.
He looked back—
Expression unreadable.
But his silence
Seemed to reply—
"What I do
Isn't yours to judge."
—
Atop the high pavilion,
Gǔ Líng stood with hands behind his back,
Gazing down at the new student quarters.
His eyes were deep.
"The Hidden Dragon List…
Still the most pragmatic touchstone in the academic world.
Winds rise from the faintest reed,
Flames ignite from the smallest star…
Let's see how they respond."
—
Dusk deepened.
The noise had not faded.
Just as Xiǎo Chén and Xuán Chén were about to enter the Candidate Quarters,
A lean, honest-faced youth approached them.
His clothes were plain,
A worn sword strapped to his back.
But his eyes held a glint of cleverness—
And a hint of flattery.
He bowed quickly.
"Greetings, junior brothers.
I'm Shī Tóngbǎi,
A third-year from the Outer Court.
I help with errands, messages, and guiding newcomers.
I know a fair bit about the academy's ins and outs."
He spoke fast,
But his gaze was sharp—
Watching their reactions.
His tone was humble,
But carried a sly undertone.
"If you don't mind,
I'd be honored to guide you.
No detours—straight to the good stuff."
Xiǎo Chén blinked,
Then smiled.
"You're the first one to talk to us without picking a fight.
I like you."
Xuán Chén glanced at him,
Voice calm.
"You know anything about the Hidden Dragon List?"
Shī Tóngbǎi's eyes lit up.
He nodded eagerly.
"Of course!
It's the most recognized ranking in the academic world.
Top hundred spots—always fiercely contested.
But the real focus is the top ten.
Those are monsters.
It's a fascinating story…"
The two exchanged a glance.
This one—
Stays.
—
That night,
Lights flickered across the Candidate Quarters.
The tides of the future
Lay quietly in the eyes of youths meeting for the first time.
And those tides—
Were already gathering beneath the night.